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Issue:- 6 March 2014

2 professional burglars have been jailed for a nationwide series of raids on golf clubs, including Royal Birkdale

DANIEL Lloyd, aged 43, of the Holwood Estate, Westerham Road, Keston, and Joe McCaughey, aged 26, of King Henry's Drive, New Addington, Croydon, were found guilty of conspiracy to burgle following a 3 week trial at Birmingham Crown Court. They received 5 and 3 years respectively.

They were responsible for at least 36 separate burglaries in 17 counties, including four in Lancashire in a single day, some of which were caught on CCTV.

The pair came to the attention of the National Crime Agency following an investigation into a corrupt criminal defence lawyer who was sentenced last year for perverting the course of justice. Lloyd was one of the lawyer's close associates and was arrested at the time.

When officers searched Lloyd's home they found evidence on his computer of internet searches for golf club thefts, locker security and lock picking. Further investigation revealed that Lloyd and McCaughey were in fact the subjects of a wanted appeal by Police which featured on BBC's Crimewatch in 2010.

At the time police had asked for information on two men they believed had struck 60 times while clubhouses were open for business by posing as golfers and brazenly raiding lockers.

Steve Baldwin, NCA Head of Regional Investigations, said:- "These men were professional burglars who tried to mask their identities by avoiding CCTV cameras, changing their clothes to enter the same clubs over and over again, and using false number plates on their vehicles. When we discovered they were the wanted men from the appeal, the NCA worked with Police forces and golf clubs across the country to gather evidence. We proved they had stolen equipment from hundreds of golfers, which they disposed of here and overseas. Our focus is now the financial side of the investigation and stripping them of their assets."

Officers believe Lloyd funded his lifestyle by committing crime as there are no tax records to support his claim that he was a businessman involved in property and car deals. In addition to his luxury house, which is worth over £800,000, he drove high value vehicles including a Bentley and a Range Rover.

Although evidence relating to 36 golf clubs burglaries was used during the trial, officers believe Lloyd and McCaughey were responsible for many more and could have raided up to a 1,000 lockers and stolen equipment worth over £750,000.

The duo moved around clubhouses in golf attire and even chatted to other golfers. When they gained access to the changing rooms, which they sometimes did by duping members of staff, they stole full sets of golf clubs, shoes, clothing and even cherry picked the more expensive clubs.

The main vehicle they used was a Chrysler Grand Voyager which was registered to an address linked to Lloyd. He sold the vehicle shortly after the Crimewatch programme was aired.

Lloyd and McCaughey raided golf clubs in the following areas:- Lancashire, Devon, Somerset, Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Wiltshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Northumbria, Cleveland, Durham, Cumbria,
Merseyside, Kent and Suffolk.

This is the CCTV footage of the 2 men in action.

Appeal launched after woman assaulted on Liverpool to Wigan train

THE British Transport Police (BTP) are calling on the public for help after a woman was assaulted on a train between Huyton and Prescot. The incident happened at about 11.20pm on Saturday, 8 February 2014, as the 42 year old woman from Garswood made her way home following a night out in Liverpool. A group of men, who had been to watch Preston North End at Tranmere earlier in the day, boarded the train at Liverpool Lime Street and began to sing songs relating to Preston. As the journey progressed the men became louder and banged on the windows of the train.  PC Victoria Hodson said:- "The victim asked the men to calm down, but they turned on her and began to verbally abuse her. At this point another passenger stepped in to defend the woman and became involved in a physical confrontation with the Preston North End supporters. The victim tried to help the man who had intervened, but she was then assaulted and sustained injuries to her head causing swelling, concussion and whiplash."

Following the incident BTP officers have spoken to a number of people and have managed to gain descriptions of the men involved.   PC Hodson said:- "The main aggressor was a white man, aged in his early 20's, was about 6 feet tall, had short red hair, and was wearing a short, dark blue sports jacket. He spoke with a Lancashire accent. The man who intervened, who we would also like to speak to, was white, in his early 40s', about 5 foot 8 inches tall and had short, dark thinning hair. He was wearing a navy blue jacket, pink shirt and jeans. If you recognise either of the men, or can assist the investigation in any way, please call British Transport Police on:- 0800 40 50 40 or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on:- 0880 555 111. In all calls please quote log:- NWA/B2 of 6/3/14."

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